EG1109 STATICS and MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

INQUIRY-BASED TUTORIAL NO. 3

1. Consider a cable of span L and carrying a uniformly distributed load qo as shown in Fig. 1. Assuming the weight of the cable to be negligible, determine the optimal shape of the cable that minimizes the total volume of the cable material. The axial stress (axial force divided by cross-sectional area) in the cable should not exceed the maximum permissible stress V o .

y
A

h
C

x
qo

Fig. 1

2. A cable of length L is supported at different elevations and is used to suspend two masses m1 10 kg and m2 25 kg at B and C, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. The vertical heights of B and C relative to the support at A are denoted by h1 and h2 , respectively. For simplicity, use g = 10 m/s2. Obtain two independent equations relating h1 and h2 and then use them to determine the cable length L if it is desired that h1 = h2 . If the cable length L = 5m, compute h1 , h2 and the maximum tension in the cable.

D
1m

1m

1m

0.5 m

A
h1

h2

C
m1
m2

Fig. 2

3. A boy having a mass of 70 kg attempts to walk on a board which is supported by a pin at A and a post BC. If B = 0.3 and C = 0.5, determine the maximum angle of alignment for the post so that he can safely reach the other side. Neglect the mass of the board and post and the thickness of the post in the calculation.

Fig. 3